Mixer.



G. A. WILLIAMS.

MIXER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23| IQI- *Lv Patented June 19, 1917.

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Clttouuu G. A. WILLIAMS.

MIXER.

APPLICATION FILED III/W23, 1916.

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Patent-ed June 19, 1917.

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MIXER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 19, 191'?.

Application led May 23, 1916. Serial No. 99,387.

This invention relates to improvements in` l mixers prlmarily designed for use in the agitation of ore, water and oil in the separation of values from the ore by what 1s commonly known as the bubble flotation process,

butwhich also'may be employed for other analogous purposes to effect the thorough agitation and aeration of substances to be subjected to separatory treatment.

The object of the invention is to provide a mixer or agitator whereby the particles of the ore may be agitated with the Water and oil to effect a more thoroughr division of the Solid matter to be treated, the more thorough diffusion of the bubbles of oil throughout the water and a more efficient modification of the physical properties of the water so that bubbles ofthe proper kind may be formed, and which in addition will also aerate the mass under treatment to effect a more reliable and efficient coating of the values With a film of oil and more efiicient adhes'on of the particles of values to the walls of the bubbles.l

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical section through an agitator or mixer constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 isa top plan view of the mixer, mixer-shaft appearing in section.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of one of the screens.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through the mixingtank showing a portion of one of the air nozzles.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the mixer as a whole, which comprises an outer primary separating tank 0r vessel 2 and an inner mixing tank or vessel 3. These tanks or vessels are coaxially arranged and spaced to provide an intervening annular combined separating chamber and feed passage 4, and said tanks or vessels are respecthe tively provided with conical lower ends 5 and 6 having outlets 7 and 8 provided with controlling valves 7 and 8. The tank 2 has connected therewith feed pipes 9 provided with controlling valves 9 and which connect therewith at the same or different levels, for the supply ofv the material to be treated to the chamber or passage 4. This material may consist of a mineral bearing ore, together with a carrier vehicle, such as water and oil of proper specific gravity, the pulp being fed to the hopper preferably from an elevated source and through the force of gravity. In practice it'will be understood that the ore as it comes from the mine is combined with a suitable proportion of water, the mix-ture ordinarily consisting of from 15% to 20% solids and the greater part of the remainder water, a certain amount of the specified oil or oils being added thereto prior to separation, sayin the pro ortion of 1 to 3 pounds of oil to a short ton o crude ore containing, for example, 1% copper. This oil is added 1to the mixture which is feeding to the primary separator drop by drop or in suitably divided quantities, so that, as a result of the agitation hereinafter described, the oil will be thoroughly diEused throughout the ore and subdivided for the production of bubbles anda modification of the physical properties of the water for the productionof bubbles of the proper kind.

The valve 8 in the bottom of the hopper is normally closed, and the hopper bottom is desired water level l1ne ca which body of water forms a support for the flotation body particles of ore and other materials of less specific gravity than body 10 will float upwardly therethrough, the fine "refuse being also carried up With the oil and-passing with the oil from the top of the hopper chamber into the top of the mixer, while the heavy particles of ore which are of greater specific gravity than the water will pass-downward into the bottom of the separator tank for subsequent discharge. the small particles of material, such as will pass through a mesh screen, and which can be treated, will be separated from the coarser particles which cannot pass through a screen of the character mentioned and which therefore cannot be treated, and such In this manner allA 4filled with the water, as shown at 10, up to a p fall - projecting downwardly and inwardly at an angle of about 45 to a point radially about midway between the wall of the tank and the axial center thereof. These aprons or deflectors are disposed at different heights or levels and are adapted for coperation with vertically disposed screens 12 arranged beneath the respective deflectors and between adjacent defiectors and in spaced relation to the walls of the tank to provide liquid passages 13. The screens consist, preferably, of sheet metal plates having perforations o f a suitable degree of fineness therein for'the fiow of liquid from the' center of the `tan( into the passages 13 and drainage of the liquid'back again into the body of the tank through the lower ends of said passages. Extending vertically and axially within the mixing tank is a shaft 14 journaled in'suitable bearings 15 and provided with a pulley 16 whereby motion lmay be communicated thereto from a suitable source of power. The shaft is designed in practice to be rotated at a given or desired speed, and isvprovided'at different elevations or levels with radial mixing blades 17, arranged in superposed sets corresponding to the levels of the screens, one set for cooperation with the deflector or deflectors at a certain level and the screens at the next adjacent lower level. The mixer blades rotate in paths at right angles to the direction of flow of the material, which is designed to flow by gravity through the mixing chamber to the feed outlet 7, and such blades operate on the passage of the plup to thoroughly agitate and stir the same and diffuse the oil throughout the mass and to otherwise put the ingredients of the pulp in condition foran eflicient and reliable final separation.` The blades also force the oil through the perforations in the screen and into the passages 13, the oil draining back into the mixing chamber, whereby the oil globules will be broken up and the oil placed in a more limpid or finely divided condition to adapt it to penetrate every portion of the solid mass of the pulp and to effect the coating of the ore particles in a more efiicient manner. It will thus be understood that the pulp owing upward through the primary separatorto the mixer will first be separated from the coarsest particles of the ore which will descend into the bottom of the hopper tank for-discharge, while the finer mineral bearing particles of ore will pass upward through and with the oil and enter the mixing chamber, through which it will feed downward by gravity while being thoroughly agitated and mixed with the oil, the resultant mixture passing through the outlet 7 to a suitable separator for further treatment. Disposed within the lower portion of the hopper is an annular air cell or chamber 19, preferably of triangular form, said cell being preferably formed of a back and bottom of sheet metal or other impervious material and a front of canvas or other 4sufiiciently porous material. This cell or air supplying nozzle is designed for thesupply of streamsor divided portions of air to the passage 4 to combine 'with the oil, the bubbles of oil and air gathering or collecting in the form of a frothy'mass, carrying with it all of the particles of ore of available size, such frothy mass floating upward and discharging into the top of the mixing vessel. By this action of injecting air into the pulp, the oil will be further subdivided and-aerated, thus further decreasing the specific gravityof the oil and further increasing its supporting area, so that a less quantity of oil will be required for separating any' given amount of material, and consequently the cost of oil supply and recovery will be correspondingly reduced. Furthermore, the action of the air in increasing the buoyancy and supporting capacity of the oil insures the separation from the refuse of particles of ore of maximum weight within the screening limit, thus preventing any loss of ore which would be liable to occur under ordinary conditions.

I claim 1. In an agitator or mixer, the combination of an externalreceptacle adapted to contain a body of liquid to a determined level, an inner receptacle in communica-tion at its upper portion with the upper portionl of the outer receptacle, said inner receptacle being 'spaced from said outer receptacle, agitating means within the inner receptacle, aerating means within the outer receptacle, and a discharge outlet at the bottom of said inner receptacle.

2. An. agitator or mixer of the character described comprising an outer receptacle adapted to contain a body of liquid in its lower portion to a predetermined level, an inner receptacle disposed within said outer receptacle and in spaced relation thereto, said inner receptacle .being in communication at its top withthe top of the outer receptacleythe space between said receptacles above the body of liquid forming a passage for the upiow of the material under treatment by flotation action, agitating means within the inner receptacles, and means within the outer receptacle above the level of the body of liquid for discharging streams of air into s aid passage.

8. A mixer oragitator of the character described comprising an outer receptacle having a lower receiving space for a supporting body of liquid,- an inner receptacle in spaced relation thereto' to rovide an intervening passage communicating with the upper portion of said inner receptacle, said'I passage being adapted to contain a body of oil and i water of less specific gravityv than said sup- .at its top with the top of the inner recepta cle, a series of superposed deflectors disposed within the inner receptacle, an outlet from the bottom of said inner receptacle, and a series of rotary agitators arranged within the inner receptacle beneath the repective deflectors. l

5. A mixer or agitator of the character described comprising an outer receptacle having a receiving space at its bottom for a supporting body of liquid, an inner receptacle arranged within the outer receptacle in spaced relation thereto and forming an intervening passage for the reception ofa flotation body of oil and Water, said passage communicating at its upper end with the top of said inner receptacle, agitators arranged at different levels within said inner receptacle, a discharge'outlet at the bottom of the inner receptacle, and conical deflectors within the inner receptacle above vthe respective agitators.

6. An agitator or mixer of the character described comprisingy an outer receptacle having a containing space at the bottom thereof for a body of supporting liquid, an inner receptacle arranged within theouter receptacle and in spaced relation thereto to provide an intervening flowpassage to contain a flotation body of oil and water, said passage communicating at its upper end with the upper end of the inner receptacle, a discharge outlet at the bottom of the inner receptacle, screen bodies at different levels Within the inner receptacle disposed concentric with -and spaced from the side walls rotary agitators arranged in the. spaces bounded by said screens, and conical deflectors arranged to overhang said rotary agitators.

In testlmony whereof l aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE ALBERT WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

H. KUPHALDT, W. H. JOHNS. 

